Not long had he been on sea,
more in days than number three,
But one Henry Hunt there he espy'd,
a merchant of New-castle was he;

To him Lord Howard call'd out amain, and strictly charged him to stand, Demanding then from whence he came, or where he did intend to land: The merchant then made answer soon, with heavy heart and careful mind, "My Lord, my ship it doth belong unto New-castle upon Tine."

"Canst thou shew me," the Lord did say,

66

as thou didst sail by day and night, A Scottish rover on the sea,

his name is Andrew Barton, knight?" Then the merchant sigh'd and said, with grieved mind, and well away, "But over well I know that wight, I was his prisoner yesterday:

"As I, my Lord, did sail from France, a Burdeave voyage to take so far, I met with Sir Andrew Barton thence, who rob'd me of my merchant ware: And mickle debts God knows I owe,

and every man doth crave his own; And I am bound to London now,

of our gracious King to beg a boon."

f

"Show me him," said Lord Howard then,
"let me once the villain see,

And ev'ry penny he hath from thee ta'en,

I'll double the same with shillings three." "Now God forbid," the merchant said,

"I fear your aim that you will miss : God bless from his tyranny,

you

for little you think what man he is.

"He is brass within and steel without,
his ship most huge and mighty strong,
With eighteen pieces of ordnance
he carrieth on each side along:
With beams for his top-castle,
as also being huge and high,
That neither English nor Portugal
can Sir Andrew Barton pass by."

"Hard news thou shew'st," then said the Lord,
"to welcome stranger to the sea :

But as I said, I'll bring him aboard,
or into Scotland he shall carry me."
The merchant said, "If you will do so,
take councel then, I pray, withal,
Let no man to his top castle go,

nor strive to let his beams down fall."

"Lend me seven pieces of ordnance then
of each side of my ship," said he,

"And to morrow, my Lord,

again I will your honour see:

A glass I set as may be seen,

whether you sail by day or night;

And to morrow be sure before seven,

you shall see Sir Andrew Barton, knight."

The merchant set my Lord a glass

so well apparent in his sight,

That on the morrow, as his promise was,
he saw Sir Andrew Barton, knight;
The Lord then swore a mighty oath,
"Now by the heavens that be of might,

By faith, believe me, and by troth,
I think he is a worthy knight."

Sir Andrew Barton seeing him thus scornfully to pass by,

As tho' he cared not a pin

for him and his company;

Then called he his men amain,

"Fetch back yon pedlar now," quoth he,

"And ere this way he comes again,

I'll teach him well his courtesie."

"Fetch me my lyon out of hand,"

saith the Lord, "with rose and streamer high;

Set up withal a willow-wand,

that merchant like I may pass by."

Thus bravely did Lord Howard pass,

and on anchor rise so high;

No top-sail at last he cast,

but as a foe did him defie.

A piece of ordnance soon was shot, by this proud pirate fiercely then, Into Lord Howard's middle deck,

which cruel shot killed fourteen men. He called then Peter Simon, he:

"Look how thy word do stand instead, For thou shalt be hanged on main-mast, if thou miss twelve score one penny breath."

Then Peter Simon gave a shot,

which did Sir Andrew mickle scare,

In at his deck it came so hot,

kill'd fifteen of his men of war; "Alas," then said the Pirate stout, "I am in danger now I see; This is some lord I greatly fear, that is set on to conquer me."

Then Henry Hunt, with riguor hot, came bravely on the other side, Who likewise shot in at his deck,

and killed fifty of his men beside : Then, "Out, alas," Sir Andrew cry'd, "What may a man now think or say, Yon merchant-thief that pierceth me, he was my prisoner yesterday."

Then did he on Gordion call,

unto the top-castle for to go, And bid his beams he should let fall,

for he greatly fear'd an overthrow.

The Lord call'd Horsley, now in haste,
"Look that thy word stand instead,

For thou shalt be hanged on main-mast,
If thou miss twelve score a shilling's breath."

Then up mast-tree swerved he, this stout and mighty Gordion; But Horsley he most happily

shot him under his collar-bone: Then call'd he on his nephew then, said, "Sister's sons I have no mo, Three hundred pound I will give thee, if thou wilt to top-castle go."

Then stoutly he began to climb,

from off the mast scorn'd to depart: But Horsley soon prevented him,

and deadly pierc'd him to the heart. His men being slain, then up amain did this proud pirate climb with speed, For armour of proof he had put on,

and did not dint of arrows dread:

"Come hither, Horsley," said the Lord, 66 see thou thy arrows aim aright;

Great means to thee I will afford,

and if thou speedst, I'll make thee knight:"

Sir Andrew did climb up the tree,

with right good will and all his main ; Then upon the breast hit Horsley he,

till the arrow did return again :